Henry Wurtz

Who was Henry Wurtz?

Henry Wurtz was an American chemist. He graduated from Princeton in 1848, and then studied chemistry at the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard. In 1851 he became instructor at the Yale Scientific School, and from 1853 to 1855 he was chemist to the geological survey of New Jersey. He was chosen professor of chemistry at the Medical college in Kingston, Canada in 1857, and a year later accepted a similar chair at the National Medical College in Washington, D. C.. At the same time he was examiner in the chemical division of the United States Patent Office until 1861. Later, Prof. Wurtz moved to New York.

His original work included:

the discovery of the mineral hisingerite in America;

the invention of methods for the production of alum from greensand marl and potassium chloride and potassium sulphate from similar sources;

methods of preparing pure alkalies and alkaline earths;

applications of sodium amalgams;

new modes of manufacture of fuel gas by the alternating action of air and steam on cheap coal;

the production of magnesia by precipitation from sea-water by means of calcium hydroxide;